Respiratory therapy devices and assemblies

Abstract

An oscillatory therapy device has a nebulizer port (21) close to a patient inlet (12) and a first one way valve (31) between the nebulizer port and the oscillatory mechanism (20) arranged to allow expiratory flow from the patient inlet to the mechanism but to prevent flow in the opposite direction. The nebulizer port (21) includes a second one-way valve (32) arranged to open during inhalation but to close during exhalation so that nebulizer medication is not expelled during exhalation.

1 - 10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . An oscillatory respiratory therapy device with a patient inlet and a mechanism arranged to produce an oscillating resistance to breathing through the inlet, characterised in that the device includes a first one-way valve located between the patient inlet and the mechanism and arranged to allow expiratory flow from the patient inlet to the mechanism but to restrict flow through the valve in the opposite direction, that the device also includes a nebulizer port opening into the device between the patent inlet and the first valve, that the nebulizer port is adapted for connection with the outlet of a nebulizer, and that the device includes a second one-way valve arranged to allow flow from the port to the patient inlet during inhalation but to restrict flow from the port during exhalation. 
     
     
         12 . A therapy device according to  claim 11 , characterised in that the mechanism includes a displaceable member in the form of a pivoted rocker arm supporting a valve member that closes and opens an opening through which expiratory air flows. 
     
     
         13 . A therapy device according to  claim 11 , characterised in that first valve is a duck-bill valve. 
     
     
         14 . A therapy device according to  claim 11 , characterised in that the second valve is a duck-bill valve. 
     
     
         15 . A therapy device according to  claim 11 , characterised in that the second valve is provided on a coupling separate from and removably connected to the therapy device, and that the coupling provides a connection for the outlet of a nebulizer. 
     
     
         16 . A therapy device according to  claim 15 , characterised in that the coupling also provides a connection for a patient interface. 
     
     
         17 . An assembly of a respiratory therapy device according  claim 11 , and a nebulizer connected with the nebulizer port. 
     
     
         18 . An assembly of a nebulizer and an oscillatory respiratory therapy device, the therapy device having a patient inlet and a mechanism arranged to produce an oscillating resistance to breathing through the inlet, characterised in that the assembly includes a first one-way valve located between the patient inlet and the mechanism and arranged to allow expiratory flow from the patient inlet to the mechanism but to restrict flow through the valve in the opposite direction, that the assembly also includes a nebulizer port opening into the device between the patent inlet and the first valve, that the nebulizer port is connected with the outlet of a nebulizer, and that the assembly includes a second one-way valve arranged to allow flow from the nebulizer to the patient inlet during inhalation but to restrict flow from the nebulizer during exhalation. 
     
     
         19 . A nebulizer coupling for fitting to the patient inlet of an oscillatory respiratory therapy device, characterised in that the coupling includes a one-way valve arranged to allow flow from the coupling to the patient inlet during inhalation but to restrict flow from the coupling during exhalation. 
     
     
         20 . A nebulizer coupling according to  claim 19 , characterised in that the coupling also provides a connection for a patient interface.